The next morning, Max stood at the S.H.I.E.L.D. site—a massive hangar buzzing with activity. Rows of armed men were lined up in formation, their gear freshly issued, their faces tense but disciplined. The sound of boots on concrete echoed under the steel rafters as commanders barked final orders.
Nick Fury was at the center, his trademark black coat trailing slightly as he moved. Beside him stood Phil Coulson, clipboard in hand, overseeing every last detail.
Max's eyes lingered on Coulson longer than anyone else's. Outwardly, the agent looked the same—neatly pressed suit, calm expression, professional as ever. But Max knew the truth. The day Loki had driven a scepter through him, Coulson should have died. Instead, Max had acted, leaving a fragment of vampiric energy within him. Enough to keep him alive. Enough to make him more than alive.
Coulson caught Max's gaze and, just for a second, his calm mask slipped into the faintest grin. A knowing grin. He straightened his shoulders as though carrying a strength no one else could see.
Pepper Potts was nearby, talking quietly with Tony, who was fiddling with a holographic pad strapped to his wrist. She looked more composed than anyone else in the room, though her eyes betrayed the weight of where they were about to go.
The Avengers were scattered across the hangar—Steve Rogers standing at ease with his shield strapped to his back, Clint Barton casually testing the tension of his bowstring, Natasha Romanoff leaning against a railing with that calculating stare of hers, and Bruce Banner thumbing nervously through a tablet, trying to ground himself.
But there was no Thor.
Max noticed immediately. He stepped up beside Fury. "Where's your thunder god?"
Fury didn't miss a beat. "Off-world. Said something about disturbances in the Nine Realms. He's not answering comms."
"Convenient timing," Max muttered, though there was no judgment in his tone—just observation.
Tony strolled over, catching that last line. "Relax, big guy. With Thor, it's either cosmic family drama or space wars. Pretty standard Tuesday for him."
Steve glanced between them. "Thor would've been an asset. But we'll manage."
Natasha's eyes flicked toward Max. "We're not going there to fight. Right?"
Max's gaze shifted over the hangar, from the assembled soldiers to the Avengers themselves, then back to Coulson, who stood a little straighter than the rest, clipboard tucked firmly under his arm. His voice was calm but carried through the room:
"We're not going there to pick a fight. But Horizon doesn't care who you are. If you step wrong, you'll find yourself tested. So… keep sharp, keep disciplined, and remember—out there, you're not Avengers or S.H.I.E.L.D. You're nomads. Travelers."
A hush spread across the men. Even the most hardened soldiers seemed to feel the weight in his words.
Pepper stepped closer to Tony, whispering something he didn't share aloud. Coulson, meanwhile, scribbled another note, then looked up with a faint smirk that only Max caught. "Nomads, huh… guess I'll need to re-write the briefing manual for that."
Fury finally spoke, his one eye steady on Max."Isn't the planet yours? Just… add us there," he said bluntly.
Max's gaze didn't waver. "It's mine, behind the records. I'm like a god who doesn't exist there. They know of me, but not personally. I don't dictate their world, I don't sit on their thrones. To them… I don't even exist."
Fury's expression darkened, but he gave a short nod. "Fine. Then lead on."
"Alright," Max said, and with a sharp hiss of breath the space before them shimmered. A massive portal bloomed open, its edges lined with shifting fractals of light. Through it, one could see an abandoned industrial district—an old factory complex, steel beams jutting against a cloudy sky.
"I chose this place. You can think of it as your base of operations here," Max explained.
Fury glanced at Phil. Coulson, no longer the clean-cut agent everyone remembered, stood quietly with clipboard in hand. He wasn't bald, but his hair was shorter now, his skin faintly pale, and his eyes glimmered with a subtle red hue. The vampiric energy Max had gifted him pulsed faintly beneath the surface.
Phil met Fury's look, then spoke in his calm, practical tone. "It's structurally sound, plenty of space, hidden enough. Needs equipment, but workable." He scribbled quick notes on his clipboard and handed them off to one of the nearby soldiers to begin requisitions.
Max caught the way Phil's eyes flicked around the shadows of the factory, searching for threats. "You really think I'd be pushing you all into a death trap?" Max asked dryly. "I don't need cheap tricks like that. This is just a staging ground. Safe enough."
Phil gave a single, professional nod and moved to direct the men unloading supplies.
They stepped further into the complex. Rusted beams creaked faintly overhead, but the ground was firm. A moment later, Fury asked, "Where exactly are we?"
"In the middle of a desert-like forest," Max replied. He pointed outward. "About three kilometers from here is a city. A big one. It's called Neo City. You'll want to head there eventually… but keep in mind, the laws here aren't like Earth's. Break them, and you won't get an easy out."
The group exchanged wary glances.
Max lifted his hand, and a pulse of light formed into a flickering hologram. A digital female avatar appeared—elegant, almost divine, her body shimmering with streams of data, her eyes glowing with infinite codes.
"This," Max said, "is the Digital Goddess. I created her for this world. She speaks in my stead, rules where I do not. When you hear her voice, know she speaks for me."
The avatar inclined her head slightly, her voice ringing out smooth and synthetic."Welcome, residents of Earth. Until your stay here ends, I will guide you, and teach you all that is necessary."
Fury's one eye slid toward Max. "So let me get this straight. You're telling me your lazy ass has digital versions of yourself running around, ruling over your planets for you?"
Max only shrugged, his tone casual. "What do I look like—some tyrant who enjoys micromanaging? That's tedious. I build systems, not thrones. If something breaks, I fix it. That's it."
Fury let out a slow exhale, studying him. Finally, he gave a small nod. "Alright then. Let's see what this new world of yours has to teach our people."
Max's eyes gleamed faintly, the corner of his mouth curling. "Good. Then be ready—get settled, get your senses sharp. Horizon won't wait for anyone."
***
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